In This Issue
Simon Wins Stage 2 Of La Solitaire Urgo Le Figaro
King of The Classics at 2018 International 6 Metre European Championship
Harken Tech Team on Duty at 2018 Rolex Swan Cup
Velsheda prevails on Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup coastal course
Hat trick for MOMO as Lyra scores two bullets
Future Fibres: the chosen supplier of one design rigging for the 36th AC
Longboard is 50th entry to the 50th Transpac
Bacardi Cup Winners Sponsored to Compete at Star Class Worlds
Featured Brokerage
The Last Word: Samuel Pepys
Brought to you by Seahorse magazine, Scuttlebutt Europe is a digest of sailing news and opinions, regatta results, new boat and gear information and letters from sailors -- with a European emphasis. Contributions welcome, send to
Simon Wins Stage 2 Of La Solitaire Urgo Le Figaro
Driven in part by his disappointment at his fourth place finish on Stage 1 Sebastien Simon, 28 years old skipper of Bretagne CMB Performance, won the second stage of the 49th La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro when he crossed the finish line off Portosin on Galicia's Ria de Muros Noia at 04:05.55' Wednesday morning. Winning the 515 nautical miles stage from Saint Brieuc by 19 minutes and 57 seconds, securing the second leg win of his career after his Stage 2 triumph in 2015 from La Coruna to Concarneau, Simon takes the overall lead of the four stage race which finishes in Saint-Gilles-Croix-De-Ville on Friday 14th September.
His elapsed time for the second stage of the four which comprise this edition of the famous annual solo multi stage is 2 days 14hrs 05mins 55 secs.
When four of his nearest rivals caught up from more than five nautical miles behind to challenge less than half mile astern, during a sticky transition zone of calm winds just seven miles from the finish, Simon held his nerve through a long final late afternoon and evening of the 520 nautical miles stage from Saint Brieuc across the Bay of Biscay.
Britain's Alan Roberts (Seacat Services) this morning added an excellent seventh place to the fifth on Stage 1 to lie seventh overall on the leaderboard after two stages, 49 mins and 13 seconds behind leader Simon. The 28 year old Roberts whose career best overall finish in La Solitaire is ninth in 2015, was up to third earlier on the Bay of Biscay and spent most of the final day oscillating between fourth and sixth.
But the top British solo skipper lost out on the final hours, knocked over momentarily in the inky darkness and 30kts under spinnaker close to Cape Finisterre. Latterly he was passed by Charlie Dalin (Skipper Macif 2015) and Thierry Chabagny (Gedimat) who took fifth and sixth.
Ireland's Thomas Dolan (Smurfit Kappa) arrived in Galicia in 25th, fourth Rookie, completing his first ever La Solitaire leg, "I have been more wasted at the end of a leg before but ask me after the next stage. After Fromveur I felt I sailed well, like I was quick enough downwind but that was the wrong decision. In all our briefings and routings before the start that was what was said, and Chenal de Four was Plan B, but there you are it was wrong."
First ten finishes, leg two:
1. Sebastien Simon (Bretagne CMB Performance), finished at 4h05'55
2. Xavier Macaire (Groupe SNEF) at 19'57 after first
3. Eric Peron (Finistere Mer Vent) at 20'06
4. Anthony Marchand (Groupe Royer - Secours Populaire) at 35'16
5. Thierry Chabagny (Gedimat) at 35'42
6. Charlie Dalin (Skipper Macif 2015) at 36'56
7. Alan Roberts GBR (Seacat Services) at 47'25
8. Benjamin Dutreux (SATECO-Team Vendee Formation), at 48'20
9. Thomas Cardrin (Team Vendee Formation), at 49'55
10. Corentin Douguet (NF Habitat) at 52'55
King of The Classics at 2018 International 6 Metre European Championship
La Trinite Sur Mer, Brittany, France: Day three of the International 6 Metre European Championship 2018 brought three, three lap windward leeward races, races four to six of the eight race series, grey skies and a north easterly breeze which ranged from just under ten to almost twenty knots in strength. Whilst the sun might not have been shining the conditions were a welcome change after the preceding two days of light airs and the 6s revelled in a chance to stretch their legs. The Race Committee did an excellent job of keeping the programme rolling and their mark layers were kept busy as the wind shifted with a series of mini squalls which rolled down across Quiberon Bay.
In the Classic Division His Majesty don Juan Carlos's two wins in Briband Gallant have secured him the International 6 Metre Classics European Championship Trophy with a day to spare. No doubt the trophy will sit nicely alongside the 6 Metre World Championship Trophy which he won in Vancouver last year. His Majesty only took up serious 6 Metre sailing for the 2017 season, so his achievement is impressive in this notoriously hard to master class.
The battle for the remaining podium places will go down to the wire. Overnight leader Llanoria discards her OCS disqualification to claim second place by seven points from Astree with Cream just one point further back in fourth. Now lying in fifth is Mauricio Sanchez-Vella's Titia, who was involved in a nasty incident on the start line of race five with Abu, which left both boats disqualified for being over the line and Titia with a hole in her topsides in the vicinity of the starboard shroud plates. After racing the Jury found in Titia's favour and awarded her average points for race six which she was unable to start. Every effort is being made to achieve at least a temporary repair to the boat overnight, but it is not yet certain that she will be able to race tomorrow.
Two races remain to sail. Thursday's forecast is for a gradually decreasing nine to twelve knot northerly whilst Friday is looking very light and shifty. All fingers are crossed that it will be possible to complete the final two races on Thursday so that the Friday reserve day does not have to be used.
Harken Tech Team on Duty at 2018 Rolex Swan Cup
The Harken Tech Team will also be present at the TP52 Super Series Sailing Week Valencia, Spain (Sept. 17-22) The Harken Tech Team is a group of technicians who come together from Harken facilities throughout the world to support grand prix racing events. Harken At The Front.
Velsheda prevails on Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup coastal course
Photo by Max Ranchi, www.maxranchi.com. Click on image for photo gallery.
Today the J Class yachts, competing within the Super Maxi class, were the second start after the Maxi 72s.
In reality all was decided at the start and on the first beat. Velsheda got away reasonably, starting close to the pin, and made gains on the left side of the first upwind leg. "We wanted the left side," explained tactician Tom Dodson. "The wind was supposed to go right, but there was more pressure offshore and we ended up getting into that and that's what got us into the lead."
From the weather mark, the course took the Js on a reach up the seaward side of the Costa Smeralda's spectacular off-lying island chain, before returning south with a dog-leg around Monaci and then on to the finish.
Further coastal racing continues tomorrow for the Js with a first warning signal at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup scheduled for 11:30. According to Peter Holmberg more breeze is forecast and he is looking forward to it. "We will all probably learn a little more about our boats - I think we will like more breeze." -- James Boyd / www.sailingintelligence.com
www.yccs.it/en/
jclassyachts.com
Hat trick for MOMO as Lyra scores two bullets
Photo by Ingrid Abery, www.ingridabery.com. Click on image for photo gallery.
Today the Maxi 72s were first away, with an upwind leg followed by a broad reach up the seaward side of the Costa Smeralda's spectacular off-lying island chain, before returning south with a dog-leg around Monaci before heading on to the finish.
Dieter Schön's MOMO led around the top mark and remained clear ahead for the remainder of the race to finish 2:52 ahead of George Sakelaris' Proteus (ex-Ran V) under IRC corrected time.
One of the top performances of the day came from Peter Harrison's Sorcha (ex-Ran II), which until Isla Plana was holding second, the 10 year old Maxi 72 ultimately claiming third in the six-strong fleet. "She is a good boat and we have good sailors on board," said Harrison, racing his first ever Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship this week. As to why Sorcha had managed to punch above her weight, Harrison attributed this partly to their flying their Code 0, rather than their spinnaker, on the run. "I'm really pleased, overall it was fine. It was nice tacking in flat water and we managed to stay out of the way of My Song [Pier Luigi Loro Piana's colossal Baltic 130 stormed through the fleet, overtaking all but MOMO on the water]."
Sailing on board is navigator Steve Hayles who was part of the original Ran II crew, winner of the World Championship here in 2010, 2011 and 2013. Since then the boat has gone from 4.8 to 5.4m draft and has a new rig. "This is one of my favourite boats and she has a super owner and a good bunch of people on board." Hayles was surprised they did so well in the reaching conditions which favoured the more powerful, modern Maxi 72s. They had made "a little error" at the top which had let Proteus though.
In Mini Maxi Group 1 it was the turn of Aldo Parisotto's Mylius 65 FD Oscar 3 to win ahead of Roberto Lacorte's Supernikka, with Peter Dubens' Frers 60 Spectre ahead on the water. To win a race in this, just his second occasion at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Parisotto and his crew (including recently crowned J/24 World Champion Andrea Casale) were delighted. "It was fantastic. The racing is at a very high level and we managed to maintain a good distance on our competitors," Parisotto explained. He added that at one point they had even managed to get ahead of Carlo Puri Negri's Atalanta II, rated 40 points higher than her. "Downwind today was amazing because we used our A0 and our speed was 11-12 knots."
In the Mini Maxi Group 2 Riccardo de Michele's Vallicelli 80 H2O scored her second bullet of the regatta with Guiseppe Puttini's Swan 65 Shirlaf once again second.
Racing continues tomorrow with the Mini Maxi classes sailing windward-leewards and further coastal courses for the remainder. -- James Boyd / www.sailingintelligence.com
www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
Future Fibres: the chosen supplier of one design rigging for the 36th AC
Future Fibres is the world’s pre-eminent supplier of composite rigging, with creativity and high performance driving its continued growth. With the America’s Cup sharing these same values, this is a platform for a strong alliance. For the 36th America’s Cup, Future Fibres will supply their latest design, AEROrazr. This newly developed aerofoil shaped solid carbon rigging is created especially for elite grand prix racing.
Speaking about selecting Future Fibres, Martin McElwee, Head of Emirates Team New Zealand rigging said:
“With Future Fibres’ reputation and experience in the grand prix racing arena, we believe they are the perfect choice to supply the rigging for the upcoming America’s Cup. Their new AEROrazr product is pushing the boundaries of innovation and we believe that using this rigging will push the AC75s performance to its maximum. Having already worked so successfully with Southern Spars, their parent company, we know that our partnership with Future Fibres will bring the same results.”
With the America’s Cup showcasing the most advanced and technically progressive yachts on the planet, their selection of AEROrazr acknowledges the commitment Future Fibres has made through their ground-breaking design innovations placing them at the very cutting edge of the sport of sailing.
Longboard is 50th entry to the 50th Transpac
Click on image to enlarge.
"This has been a long term dream of mine to do this race, and I'm thrilled to have this opportunity," said Peter Salusbury from Vancouver, who has entered his Paul Bieker-designed Longboard, a Riptide 35 Mk II built by Jim Betts in 2012. "This race is what this boat was designed to do, so we are really looking forward to it!"
Longboard represents an innovative and collaborative effort between Bieker and Salusbury to fulfill the vision of an offshore-capable race boat that can be sailed with fewer crew and still achieve high performance. Besides having a carbon mast, lots of sail area and high-tech design and construction for a light weight of just under 3 tons, Longboard also features 1200 lbs of water ballast positioned in outboard tanks. This helps offset the weight of 4 additional crew who would normally be racing on a boat of this size and type, allowing Longboard to race with only 4 or 5 on the team.
And unlike human crew that needs to aboard throughout the race and needs to be watered and fed (and housed ashore and given a plane ticket home), water ballast can be added and subtracted as needed to achieve optimal trim depending on wind direction and strength.
As for preparation for the race, the Longboard team will not be training or racing in Southern California, but instead plan on a regimen of medium-distance offshore races in the Pacific Northwest, such as the Southern Straits Race and Swiftsure Race in the Spring, and the Round the County Race in mid-November. - Dobbs Davis
Full story in Scuttlebutt: www.sailingscuttlebutt.com
www.facebook.com/longboardsailing/
2019.transpacyc.com
Bacardi Cup Winners Sponsored to Compete at Star Class Worlds
Almost six months have passed since the Bacardi Cup 2018 crowned the winners of the 91st edition in Miami, USA. In 2018, for the first time in the Cup's long history, an Italian team earned the engraving of their name on the prestigious Cup, as Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi stepped up to the podium and placed their names on one of the sport's most iconic prizes.
2018 Bacardi Cup Champions, Negri and Lambertenghi will now head to the 2018 Star Class World Championship as Bacardi ambassadors. This new initiative between Bacardi and the Star Class, will see each year's Bacardi Cup winners represent the Bacardi Company while competing at the next Star Class World Championship.
The Italian duo will head to Oxford, Maryland in the USA to race at the ISCYRA World Championship, 5-15 October 2018, and as reigning Bacardi Cup champions hold the honour of racing as the 'Bacardi Team of the Year', with the Bacardi logo on their hull and mainsail. A perfect synergy between Bacardi and the legendary Star Class and sailors.
The 92nd edition of the 2019 Bacardi Cup will take place between Coral Reef Yacht Club, Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, Shake A Leg Miami and the United States Sailing Center from March 3-9 2019. In the meantime, you can follow Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi, the 2018 Bacardi Cup winners and 'Bacardi Team of the Year' at the ISCRYA World Championship. -- Icarus Sports
bacardiinvitational.com
facebook.com/BacardiCupInvitational/
Featured Brokerage
Great looking sailing yacht which is available fresh from a nautical makeover of epic proportions including decks, paint, interior and all systems. Gleaming.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
-----------------------------------------
Hoppetosse is a superyacht and masterpiece built by Nautor’s Swan and launched in 2006. She combines the performance of a racing yacht with world-class comfort and opulence. The Swan 100 FD's deck lines give the yacht a very impressive sleek and racing oriented look.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com
-----------------------------------------
Successful IRC Optimised Boat with Proven Track Record. Well maintained. Full set of 3Di’s North Sails, B&G H3000 Instruments. Ready to go winning.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
I know of nothing that can give a better notion of infinity and eternity than being upon the sea in a little vessel without anything in sight but yourself within the whole hemisphere. -- Samuel Pepys
Editorial and letter submissions to
Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html